sql 2019 server cals

Question

Hello
where do we install the sql server 2019 cals ? how do i know if my cals are all used ?
thank you

Answer 1

CALs are just pieces of paper. They are not installed or tracked anywhere in the system.

Answer 2

Hi @tarek H ,

A Client Access License (CAL) is not a type of software, but rather, a license that grants Users or Devices access to SQL Server software. CAL are pieces of paper, that likes a purchase contract.

If you have further question that related to License, I suggest that you can consult professionals in this area. please call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. People there will help you more effectively.

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Answer 3

i have 2 hyper v running in active passive (hyper v replication). should i also buy sql license for the passive server knowing that the VMs are always down until the main VM are down

Answer 4

See https://download.microsoft.com/download/B/C/0/BC0B2EA7-D99D-42FB-9439-2C56880CAFF4/SQL_Server_2017_Licensing_Datasheet.pdf
=> Licensing for high availability

CAL = Client Access License is per user/machine = client, not per node.

Answer 5

Hi @tarek H ,

Suggest you reading Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Licensing Guide to better understood SQL server license.

There are two type SQL server license.

SQL Server – Per Core Based Licensing

The Per Core licensing option allows for unlimited users or devices to access SQL Server (both internally and externally). The major benefit of this option is that there is no requirement to try to quantify the number of users or devices accessing the SQL Server, be that direct or via indirect means (multiplexing).

Note: When running SQL Server in a physical environment, licenses must be assigned to all of the physical cores on the server. A minimum of four core licenses per physical processor are required, with licenses being sold in packs of two.

SQL Server – Server + CAL Licensing

When licensing SQL Server license under the Server + CAL option, customers must assign a license to the physical server hosting any operating system environment (OSE) running SQL Server and acquire a SQL Server CAL for each user or device that accesses the server.

Note: The SQL Server license allows unlimited SQL instances to be deployed on the OSE (physical or virtual).

The Server + CAL option is often the preferred licensing option when:

•Smaller SQL Server implementations exist and SQL is the supporting database for another application or smaller Intranet; and
•The number of users or devices accessing SQL Server can be quantified and Server + CAL is more cost effective than the Per Core model

Refer to the blog An Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server Licensing. The blog has examples to explain SQL server license.

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